The Last of the Red Hot Lovers
by Neil Simon
Little Theatre Company
Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
20-24th February 2018
by Neil Simon
Little Theatre Company
Dixon Studio, Palace Theatre, Westcliff on Sea
20-24th February 2018
Middle-aged and married, overworked and out of touch, Barney Cashman wants to join the sexual revolution before it’s too late. He arranges three seductions. The first, Elaine, proves to be a foul-mouthed bundle of neuroses, the second, Bobbi, a 20-ish actress who’s too kooky by half, and the third is Jeanette, a gloomy depressed housewife who happens to be married to Barney’s best friend.
Anyone has the ability to have an affair… but would they?
Anyone has the ability to have an affair… but would they?
We catch up with first time director for Little Theatre Company, Julian Cottee, 28, a secondary school teacher from Shoeburyness, who tells us all about his directorial debut, his favourite roles with LTC, which roles he'd love to play, and what he said to Judi Dench when he bumped into her in the street recently!!!
Tell us about this production
The production is a play by Neil Simon called Last of the Red Hot Lovers. It’s a comedy set in the early 1970’s in which Barney who has been happily married for over 20 years is helplessly watching the sexual revolution of the 1960’s pass him by. In a last gasp attempt at taking part, he tries to have an affair with 3 different women to various degrees of success. I am making my directorial debut.
It is a classic Neil Simon play in which it has a lot of laughs driven by dynamic and likeable characters. I’ve found that this particular play is quite different to his others in that he has the usual comedic toolbox being used, but that there is also quite a serious story and social commentary being told.
How long have you been a member of this group?
I have been a member of LTC for 6 years.
How many productions have you been involved in?
Since joining, I have been involved with 15 productions, I have only missed one!
The production is a play by Neil Simon called Last of the Red Hot Lovers. It’s a comedy set in the early 1970’s in which Barney who has been happily married for over 20 years is helplessly watching the sexual revolution of the 1960’s pass him by. In a last gasp attempt at taking part, he tries to have an affair with 3 different women to various degrees of success. I am making my directorial debut.
It is a classic Neil Simon play in which it has a lot of laughs driven by dynamic and likeable characters. I’ve found that this particular play is quite different to his others in that he has the usual comedic toolbox being used, but that there is also quite a serious story and social commentary being told.
How long have you been a member of this group?
I have been a member of LTC for 6 years.
How many productions have you been involved in?
Since joining, I have been involved with 15 productions, I have only missed one!
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What has your favourite production been?
It’s most likely Avenue Q. The show is hysterically funny and having the opportunity at being one of the puppeteers on stage in front of one of the Palace Theatre’s biggest audiences for Amateur theatre was so much fun. Also, the people in the cast and crew really had fun doing the show and that makes all the difference to the rehearsal process. What's your favourite role been? On a similar vein to the previous question, it has to be TrekkieMonster in Avenue Q. There is nothing like standing behind a door where you cannot see the audience, yelling the words “For porn” and hearing hundreds of people roaring with laughter. |
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If you could play any part, what would it be?
My answer to this questions changes on a daily basis, but for now I would have to say Elder Cunningham in the Book of Mormon. The show is incredibly funny and the character is wonderfully innocuous and yet offensive at the same time. He also has some brilliant songs to sing including “Man Up”
Do you get nervous before a show and if so, how do you deal with it?
Not particularly. I used to get nervous when I first began, but that has slowly disappeared. At the moment I find I have to force myself to concentrate going into a performance. Usually I have a good 20 minutes before a show once I am made up and in costume and I will spending that time chatting to friends, but I give myself 5 minutes to quietly focus on what I have to do, run lines in my head and do some vocal exercises.
How do you learn your lines?
I tend to use some of my teacher techniques here, but my best way is probably covering them up and trying to memorise and seeing how well I did afterwards. I also find running through them with my partner or a friend helps through repetition.
My answer to this questions changes on a daily basis, but for now I would have to say Elder Cunningham in the Book of Mormon. The show is incredibly funny and the character is wonderfully innocuous and yet offensive at the same time. He also has some brilliant songs to sing including “Man Up”
Do you get nervous before a show and if so, how do you deal with it?
Not particularly. I used to get nervous when I first began, but that has slowly disappeared. At the moment I find I have to force myself to concentrate going into a performance. Usually I have a good 20 minutes before a show once I am made up and in costume and I will spending that time chatting to friends, but I give myself 5 minutes to quietly focus on what I have to do, run lines in my head and do some vocal exercises.
How do you learn your lines?
I tend to use some of my teacher techniques here, but my best way is probably covering them up and trying to memorise and seeing how well I did afterwards. I also find running through them with my partner or a friend helps through repetition.
Director, Julian, making sure the cast are getting their lines right!
Which show would you like your group to put on, that hasn't been done yet?
Either the Book of Mormon or Matilda. Both aren’t available to amateur groups unfortunately, but they have brilliant scores and wonderful staging and I think we would be able to do them well. I would also love to say Hamilton, but I don’t pretend that my rap skills are up to scratch!
Who's your favourite actor? If that person walked into the room right now, what would you say to them?
Tom Hanks – he has such versatility in the characters he places and the delivery of lines is superb. If I met him I would probably become a bumbling oaf. I recently walked passed Judi Dench and rather than play it cool or subtle, my voice went about 4 octaves higher and all I could say was “That’s Judi Dench!”
How do you get into character?
I try to imagine myself receiving the same news or having the same mission and then think about how I would react. I also try to put myself in an audience member’s shoes – how would I want to feel at this moment, would I want to laugh or cry etc?
What's the best thing about this show?
I think the best thing about this show is the performance giving by the cast. The characters all undertake journeys within each Act or in Barney’s case, across the entire show and the cast do a great job at conveying the change in their attitudes and behaviours in such a small amount of time. Not to mention the laughs to be had watching Barney’s attempt to seduce the ladies.
What's the next production the company are putting on?
The next production is certainly not one to miss out on – it is The Full Monty which is at the Palace Theatre from the 16th to the 19th May. A musical version of the much-loved film, it will feature 6 of our finest (5 of our finest and me) men baring all in this riotous and hilarious show. Tickets are selling quickly so it will definitely be worth ordering now!
Either the Book of Mormon or Matilda. Both aren’t available to amateur groups unfortunately, but they have brilliant scores and wonderful staging and I think we would be able to do them well. I would also love to say Hamilton, but I don’t pretend that my rap skills are up to scratch!
Who's your favourite actor? If that person walked into the room right now, what would you say to them?
Tom Hanks – he has such versatility in the characters he places and the delivery of lines is superb. If I met him I would probably become a bumbling oaf. I recently walked passed Judi Dench and rather than play it cool or subtle, my voice went about 4 octaves higher and all I could say was “That’s Judi Dench!”
How do you get into character?
I try to imagine myself receiving the same news or having the same mission and then think about how I would react. I also try to put myself in an audience member’s shoes – how would I want to feel at this moment, would I want to laugh or cry etc?
What's the best thing about this show?
I think the best thing about this show is the performance giving by the cast. The characters all undertake journeys within each Act or in Barney’s case, across the entire show and the cast do a great job at conveying the change in their attitudes and behaviours in such a small amount of time. Not to mention the laughs to be had watching Barney’s attempt to seduce the ladies.
What's the next production the company are putting on?
The next production is certainly not one to miss out on – it is The Full Monty which is at the Palace Theatre from the 16th to the 19th May. A musical version of the much-loved film, it will feature 6 of our finest (5 of our finest and me) men baring all in this riotous and hilarious show. Tickets are selling quickly so it will definitely be worth ordering now!
Meet the Cast/Characters
Barney is played by Jamie Redgate. Barney is a 47 year old, balding, nervous fish-restaurant owner. He has been married to his high-school sweetheart for over 20 years however he has decided to try and play it fast and loose with his marital affairs. He is increasingly aware that “the total sum of my existence has been ‘nice’” and wants to start living.
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Elaine Navazio is played by Liane Larthe. She is in her late 30’s and a seasoned professional who has “done the unthinkable with other men in other places before”. She is married, however has fully embraced the promiscuous lifestyle and after being a customer in Barney’s restaurant has decided to indulge herself once again. She soon realises that she has taken on a complete novice.
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Bobbi Michele is played by Louisa Strachan. Bobbi as a 20-something aspiring actress from California who describes herself as “goofy” and “charming”. Barney finds her in the park and falls for her innocence and good looks, however it soon becomes apparent (mainly thanks to the elaborate stories Bobbi has including a man who had his teeth sharpened and a police conspiracy to steal her dog) that she is madder than a hatter.
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Jeanette Fisher is played by Sarah Pettican. Jeanette is in her 40’s and is the wife of Barney’s best friend Mel. Jeanette indicated her willingness to have an affair with Barney before, however it quickly becomes apparent that she’s not ready. Despite everything Barney tries, he struggles to break down the staunch moralist of Jeanette.
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For tickets go online to www.southendtheatres.org.uk or call the box office on 01702 351135